M. S. Mullakaev

Extraction of bitumen, crude oil and its products from tar sand and contaminated sandy soil under effect of ultrasound.

In the present paper, the kinetics of the water extraction of bitumen from tar sand and crude oil or residual fuel oil from model contaminated soils under the effect of ultrasound is studied. The influence of process temperature, ultrasound power, the nature, and properties of the components of heterogeneous mixtures being separated, and the concentration of added alkaline reagents on the rate and degree of oil recovery is investigated. A functional form of the dependencies of separation efficiency on the mean size of solid particles and the temperature of a working medium is found. Optimum concentrations of reagents in the process solution are determined. It is shown that the spent solution of sodium silicate can be multiply used for separation, its reuse even speeding up the yield of oil in the initial period. Taking into account obtained results, a multipurpose pilot plant with a flow-type reactor for ultrasonic extraction of petroleum and its products from contaminated soils was manufactured and tested. During tests, the purification of sandy soil contaminated with residual fuel oil was carried out which verified the results of laboratory studies.

Ultrasonic technology for enhanced oil recovery from failing oil wells and the equipment for its implemention

A new method for the ultrasonic enhancement of oil recovery from failing wells is described. The technology involves lowering a source of power ultrasound to the bottom of the well either for a short treatment before removal or as a permanent placement for intermittent use. In wells where the permeability is above 20 mD and the porosity is greater than 15% ultrasonic treatment can increase oil production by up to 50% and in some cases even more. For wells of lower permeability and porosity ultrasonic treatment alone is less successful but high production rates can be achieved when ultrasound is applied in conjunction with chemicals. An average productivity increase of nearly 3 fold can be achieved for this type of production well using the combined ultrasound with chemical treatment technology.

Ultrasonically improved galvanochemical technology for the remediation of industrial wastewater

Two general methodologies adopted for the decontamination of industrial wastewater containing oil and metal ions are flocculation and coagulation. Both methods require the addition of chemicals and in the case of electrocoagulation the additional use of electrical power. Another methodology that was developed in Russia some years ago involves the production of Fe2O3 particles as coagulants by a galvanochemical reaction between iron and coke. Both of these materials are inexpensive and generally available in bulk. Ultrasonic processing of the particles generated in this reaction reduces the particle size of the Fe2O3 particles and provides surface cleaning making them more effective. Trials have proved their efficiency for the decontamination of wastewater made up in a laboratory and real wastewater from a carriage cleaning station on the St. Petersburg Metro. A mathematical model for the process has been developed.

Acoustic and sonochemical methods for altering the viscosity of oil during recovery and pipeline transportation

Reduction of oil viscosity is of great importance for the petroleum industry since it contributes a lot to the facilitation of pipeline transportation of oil. This study analyzes the capability of acoustic waves to decrease the viscosity of oil during its commercial production. Three types of equipment were tested: an ultrasonic emitter that is located directly in the well and affects oil during its production and two types of acoustic machines to be located at the wellhead and perform acoustic treatment after oil extraction: a setup for ultrasonic hydrodynamic treatment and a flow-through ultrasonic reactor. In our case, the two acoustic machines were rebuilt and tested in the laboratory. The viscosity of oil was measured before and after both types of acoustic treatment; and 2, 24 and 48h after ultrasonic treatment and 1 and 4h after hydrodynamic treatment in order to estimate the constancy of viscosity reduction. The viscosity reduction achieved by acoustic waves was compared to the viscosity reduction achieved by acoustic waves jointly with solvents. It was shown, that regardless of the form of powerful acoustic impact, a long lasting decrease in viscosity can be obtained only if sonochemical treatment is used. Using sonochemical treatment based on ultrasonic hydrodynamic treatment a viscosity reduction by 72,46% was achieved. However, the reduction in viscosity by 16%, which was demonstrated using the ultrasonic downhole tool in the well without addition of chemicals, is high enough to facilitate the production of viscous hydrocarbons.

Effect of ultrasound on the viscosity-temperature properties of crude oils of various compositions

The effect of ultrasonic treatment on the viscosity-temperature properties of crude oils of various component compositions has been studied. The efficiency of ultrasonication depends on the group composition of oil and treatment time. The ultrasonic treatment of low-paraffinic oils with a high tar and asphaltene content leads to a substantial decrease in viscosity and the pour point, and the efficiency of ultrasonication increases with an increase in the treatment time. For crude oils with a high n-alkane content, ultrasonic treatment is not effective, which is due to the intensification of crystallization of high-molecular n-alkanes. Calculations that evaluate the effect of ultrasonic treatment on variations in the viscosity of oils are performed based on the fatigue mechanism, which have shown that experimental data are in agreement with the calculated values.

Improving the Productivity of Wells by Means of Acoustic Impact on High-Viscosity Oil in the Channels of the Face Zone of a Well

The effect of an acoustic field generated by a submersible device on the viscosity of oil present in the channels of the face zone reservoir of a well is considered. It is shown that forced vibrations of the walls of the porous structure of the stratum induce a flow of constant velocity in the viscous liquid, which may be interpreted as a decrease in the effective viscosity. An experimental verification of the calculations was performed and confirmed the reliability of the mathematical calculations and demonstrated the efficacy of ultrasound.

Development of a Combined Technology and Ultrasonic Scheme for Stimulation of Oil Recovery

Experimental and full-scale pilot tests of a newly developed thermoacoustic down-hole system and a combined technology in fields of Western Siberia and the Samara Oblast testify to their high efficiency. The equipment and technology developed can be offered to oil companies to increase the yield of their wells.